Teleochilus

Teleochilus
Teleochilus royanus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Raphitomidae
Genus:	Teleochilus Harris, 1897
Type species
† Daphnella gracillina Tenison Woods, 1876
Species
See text
Synonyms[1]
Litachilus Powell, A.W.B. 1944

Teleochilus is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Raphitomidae.^[1]

(Original description) The protoconch is large, with 1½ depressed whorls, spirally and longitudinally striated from the initial portion onwards, the spiral striae developing into well-defined sulcations as the shell passes from the brephic to the neanic stages of growth.

The shell as a whole is elongate, the aperture being much longer relatively than, the spire. The whorls are slightly convex and spirally sulcated throughout, the lines of growth well-marked. The suture is typically canaliculate. The aperture shows a thin, erect, outer lip, constricted posteriorly, and broad towards the anterior. The columella is plain, with a thin deposit of callus through which the sulci appear.

It is difficult to satisfactorily classify this genus. By its general configuration it has considerable analogy with Daphnella, but may be easily differentiated by the unique characteristics of the protoconch, and the absence of a posterior sinus. The last-mentioned circumstance might be taken advantage of to remove Teleochilus from the Pleurotomidae, did we not know that the possession of a sinus is not an absolutely necessary qualification for inclusion in that family.

In some respects Teleochilus recalls certain forms of Mitra, but it has no columellar plications, nor even the semblance of a fold. Whilst its protoconch is distinctive. At the same time, it approaches the genus Dilaphus, Philippi, which, although deprived of folds on the columella, is classified with the Mitridae, chiefly on anatomical grounds.

The soft parts of the animal were first described by Mr. A. Garrett, who was unable to detect any difference between them and those of Cylindra, Schumacher. Unfortunately, it is not possible to ascertain the relationships of Teleochilus in the same manner, as its soft parts are denied to us. On conchological considerations alone it is included in Pleurotomidae, and may be assigned a position in the neighbourhood of Daphnella.^[2]

Species within the genus Teleochilus include:

• † Teleochilus gracillinus (Tenison Woods, 1876)
• Teleochilus royanus Iredale, 1924^[3]

Species brought into synonymy

• Teleochilus biconicus Hedley, 1903: synonym of Benthofascis biconica (Hedley, 1903)
• Teleochilus sarcinulum Hedley, 1905: synonym of Benthofascis sarcinula (Hedley, 1905)

• Laseron, C. 1954. Revision of the New South Wales Turridae (Mollusca). Australian Zoological Handbook. Sydney : Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales pp. 56, pls 1–12.
• Powell, A.W.B. 1966. The molluscan families Speightiidae and Turridae, an evaluation of the valid taxa, both Recent and fossil, with list of characteristic species. Bulletin of the Auckland Institute and Museum. Auckland, New Zealand 5: 1–184, pls 1–23
• Wilson, B. 1994. Australian marine shells. Prosobranch gastropods. Kallaroo, WA : Odyssey Publishing Vol. 2 370 pp.

• Tucker, J.K. (2004). "Catalog of recent and fossil turrids (Mollusca: Gastropoda)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 682: 1–1295.
• Worldwide Mollusc Species Data Base: Raphitomidae